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A male columnist reflects on how men behaved when the Miss Malaika beauty finals were held in Zimbabwe?s southern city of Bulawayo.
A male columnist reflects on how men behaved when the Miss Malaika beauty finals were held in Zimbabwe?s southern city of Bulawayo.
Trainer’s notes
Gender stereotypes/language and messages
This column provides a host of gender stereotypes, blatant and subtle.
Women are depicted as
There are contradictory attributes given to women throughout the column. On the one hand they are likened to ‘angels’ and ‘milk’ – images of being pure, chaste and good- but the writer also refers to women as ‘fatal attractions’.
The writer also states that some sex workers posed as Miss Malika contestants and did business for higher prices. This is a veil reference that there is a subtle distinction between a sex worker and a beauty contestant.
When journalists put together facts and information in articles, they invariably convey messages to their audiences. Columnists who have more leeway to state their opinions and biases often do the most damage in reinforcing gender norms.
Throughout this column, the writer treats both women and men as subjects not deserving of respect, and the entire tone of the column – done in jest- is negative towards women and men.
It should be emphasized in editorial and opinion writing that the same ethical standards of balance, fair representation, diversity and minimum harm, etc. should still be the guidelines followed. Although in this journalistic genre the writer can express an opinion, this should be written in an informed and responsible manner.
Training exercises
Exercise one: Study a copy of the article.
Download : When the beauties come to
📝Read the emotional article by @nokwe_mnomiya, with a personal plea: 🇿🇦Breaking the cycle of violence!https://t.co/6kPcu2Whwm pic.twitter.com/d60tsBqJwx
— Gender Links (@GenderLinks) December 17, 2024
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